POLITICS > CHP accuses gov’t of covering Dink hit probe

ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News

Main opposition leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu insists on accusations that the ruling party is protecting state officials in the probe into Hrant Dink’s murder, while a the murder trial’s judges and prosecutor face probe

Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has voiced concern that prosecutors could use a probe into the sex tape of former Chairman Deniz Baykal to mount a fresh judicial onslaught against the main opposition party.

On how the investigation was progressing, Kılıçdaroğlu said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had failed to keep promises ordering the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) to investigate the scandal.

“Let me put it like this: You will see over the coming days a special-authority prosecutor will come up with a file about the CHP and there will be fuss and commotion again. They will again use imaginary names, anonymous tip-offs and secret witnesses to fabricate something,” Kılıçdaroğlu said in an interview with the private news channel CNN Türk. He did not elaborate further.

Insisting on accusations that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) was protecting state officials in the probe into Hrant Dink’s murder, Kılıçdaroğlu alleged the authorities had concealed a critical testimony by a former intelligence officer. “A former intelligence expert gave testimony to the Interior Ministry’s chief inspector. This testimony includes some very important details on Dink’s murder and the Ergenekon probe and is in the case file, but lawyers could not see it because of a secrecy order,” he said.

The CHP said the party’s extraordinary congress will be convened in late February or early March. There will be no race for chairmanship, but Kılıçdaroğlu challenged any prospective rivals. “I wish more people would become candidates for chairmanship and I hope for democratic competition within the party. I will destroy the old mentality; solidarity and peace will reign within this party,” he said.Also yesterday, the CHP submitted a censure motion to Parliament against Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin on grounds he neglected his duties and failed to protect the judiciary’s independence.

Kılıçdaroğlu lashed out at Ergin, saying the texts of parliamentary questions submitted by the CHP had been used in an indictment as evidence of attempts to discredit the government. “Can such an accusation be considered normal in another democratic country? This prosecutor is prejudiced and should be investigated. The justice minister is responsible for that as the head of the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors [HSYK],” Kılıçdaroğlu said.

Dink judge faces inquiryIn a separate development, HSYK launched a preliminary inquiry into the chief judge and prosecutor in the Dink murder case after the two clashed publicly over the contentious verdict in the case.

The board said in a written statement it had appointed an inspector to conduct the inquiry, prompted by remarks judge Rüstem Eryılmaz and prosecutor Hikmet Usta suggested to the media after the court’s ruling that no illegal organization was involved in Dink’s murder, sparking public indignation.

In an unprecedented move, Erılmaz said he himself was not satisfied with the outcome but defended the verdict on grounds it was based on evidence made available to the court. Usta responded saying the court had sufficient evidence an organized group was behind the murder, slamming the court’s decision to acquit police informant Erhan Tuncel, who had been accused of instigating the murder.